New research finds the 1.2 million people who have filed for unemployment in Illinois since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic are more likely to be women and people of color — especially Latinos.

Four days of looting across Chicago and Illinois has damaged hundreds of businesses beyond repair this week, leaving small business owners concerned they may face steep rebuilding costs from insurance companies and the state.

CTA CUTBACKS TO STAY — Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Tuesday defended her decision to shut down the CTA overnight and said transit service will stay limited for the foreseeable future, saying the move was necessary to protect transit workers.

Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday declared a disaster for nine Illinois counties hit hardest by riots and looting following peaceful protests in the name of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who was killed by Minneapolis police last week.

The National Guard troops will provide perimeter security in the center of downtown for an undefined period of time following the rioting that broke out late Saturday during a protest over the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man,